Flow-Sorting System

Abstract

A system and method are provided to determine in order, what mailing pieces are eligible for Flat Sequence Sorter (FSS) preparation, determine applicable prices of the pieces, and prepare bundles of the pieces to conform to the expected USPS output. By orderly implementing a filtering operation wherein FSS and Non-FSS pieces are first identified, followed by a pricing operation for groups with a very granular level (HDP) and the best price, to groups with a very coarse level (3D), and then creating bundles, pallets or containers, sacks, trays or handling units, of the FSS and Non-FSS pieces based thereon, the system and method identifies the best possible pricing for a mailing, while ensuring that the final mailing is compliant with U.S. Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual, Section 705.

1 . A method to sort mail into physical groups having optimum prices, comprising:
 controlling an intake operation to separate Flat Sequence Sorter (FSS) and non-FSS eligible mail pieces;   controlling a sorting operation to selectively group the sorted pieces prior to actual physical grouping;   controlling a pricing operation to determine an optimum price before actually creating the physical groups of sorted pieces, wherein the selective grouping of the sorted pieces is varied to provide the optimum price for the physical groups; and   controlling the sorting operation to create the physical groups in response to the pricing operation.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one physical group includes both FSS and non-FSS eligible pieces. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the non-FSS eligible pieces comprise Walk Sequence Saturation pieces, Destination Delivery Unit (DDU) pieces, Firm Bundle pieces and In-County pieces. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pricing operation determines an optimum price by sequential calculation from a granular level to a coarse level for the FSS eligible mail pieces. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sorting operation selectively creates the groups for optimum pricing by including the FSS eligible pieces and excluding non-FSS eligible pieces that do not comply with a minimum requirement for the physical groups. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the sorting operation creates the physical groups by combining the non-FSS eligible pieces with the FSS eligible pieces, such that the combination complies with a minimum requirement for the physical groups. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the physical groups comprise one or more of an FSS Scheme pallet, and FSS Facility pallet, and an FSS Sack. 
     
     
         8 . A system to sort mail into physical groups having optimum prices, comprising:
 an intake operator, configured to separate Flat Sequence Sorter (FSS) and non-FSS eligible mail pieces;   a sorting operator, configured to selectively group the sorted pieces prior to actual physical grouping;   a pricing operator, configured to determine an optimum price before actually creating the physical groups of sorted pieces, wherein the selective grouping of the sorted pieces is varied to provide the optimum price for the physical groups; and   the sorting operator further configured to create the physical groups in response to the pricing operation.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein at least one physical group includes both FSS and non-FSS eligible pieces. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the non-FSS eligible pieces comprise Walk Sequence Saturation pieces, Destination Delivery Unit (DDU) pieces, Firm Bundle pieces and In-County pieces. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the pricing operator determines an optimum price by sequential calculation from a granular level to a coarse level for the FSS eligible mail pieces. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the sorting operator selectively creates the groups for optimum pricing by including the FSS eligible pieces and excluding non-FSS eligible pieces that do not comply with a minimum requirement for the physical groups. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the sorting operator creates the physical groups by combining the non-FSS eligible pieces with the FSS eligible pieces, such that the combination complies with a minimum requirement for the physical groups. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the physical groups comprise one or more of an FSS Scheme pallet, and FSS Facility pallet, and an FSS Sack.